Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-29
THE COURT-MARTIAL.
JOHN z. ADAxs, OF THE HowIrzsRs,
on BATTALION TRIAL.
The Evidence Given, Case Considered
sndtte Verdict to be Reported TO
the Adiutant General.

A battalion court-msrtial was held IN
the Howitzer Armory, on north Eighth
street at s O'Clock last night to try
John II. Adams, a member of the COM
pany. on the charges Of not attending
the parade and disobedience to orders
in not parading.
These charges grew ont OF Mr..
Adams's refusing to join IN the parade
with his company on the occasion OF the
City-Hall cornerstone laying because
he was a knight of Labor, the district
assembly Of which order resolved not to
participate for alleged reasons contained
in a set of resolutions which were
adopted by the assembly few nights
before the occasion and published in the
Dispatch of next morning
RULES FOR A BATTALION COURT.
Under the rules when a member of a
military company is tried by battalion
court the court must be composed OF
members of higher rank than the ac-
cused. This court was composed o.
Major James L. Phillips (president),
Lieutenants II. A. Patterson Gudge-
advocate). John A. Hutcheson, and W.
A. Barrett-all commissioned officers,
with Private Basil Gwathmey as clerk.
THE TRIAL.
There were present at the trial
brother of the accused aud several
members of the company, but no out
siders. The examination was con-
Quoted altogether in writing, the ques-
tons being written and read by the
president Of the court and the answers
by the witnesses.
The witnesses were Captain Belure-
gard Lorraine, Sergeant William E.
Word, Lieutenant G. G.. Bosher, and
Sergeant John T. Chappell-the last
named for the defence, the Others for
the prosecution.
The examination begun soon after
8 o'clock. and it was nearly IL when the
evidence was concluded and the case
submitted.
THE Defence.
The prisoner in his written defence
pleads guilty to the charge OF not at.
tending the parade, but not guilty oil
disobedience TO orders. As an excuse
for non-attendance he pleads being too
busy to leave his work. lie gives
as his reason for not comply
ing with the captains order that
he belonged to secret order
Which thought its members had
been snubbed by the Council Commit
tee on Grounds and Buildings and that
they considered Chief-Marshal Nor
man V. Randolph as sntagonistic to the
order In defence of himself the ac
cused claims that the summons to at
tend the parade was not binding, be-
cause the company turned out by its
own vote and not by order OF the Gov
eruOr.
The evidence of Mr. Chappell, who
was once a member of the company,
and is now a member of Major 81
monss staff, which when written out
was quite voluminous, was entirely III
accordance with the defence of the ac'
cused.
DIDN'T WANT A LARGE PARADE.
Mr.. Chappell was asked why he adj
yised the prisoner not to participate in
the parade. He replied that he did moi
wish to add TO its strength.
The facts as presented by the wit
nesses for the prosecution were these
The company by a two-thirdi
vote decided to enter the pa
rade. and Captain Lorraine calles
at Mr.. Bosher's carriage-manufac
tory, where Mr.. Adams works. anC
personally notified him of the action o
the company, and requested him 10 bt
present. He replied that the knights
OF Labor. to which order he belonged,
had decided not to go into the parade,
and, through principle, he considered
it his duty to stay out.
Captain Lorraine, like other officers
and members of the company, holds
that under the bylaws and constitution
anv member who III the manner
charged here violates and dc ties the or
der of his commanding officer is
equally as liable to punishment as II
the Governor had ordered the com
pany out. Many of the members OF
the company seen by D'spatch re-
porter last night think that the case
hinges on this point.
THE VERDICT.
The court took the matter under con
sideration Just before midnight, and
spent some time in deliberating upon II
and discussing it pro and con. To
their councils no one is admitted, and
they are under oath not TO divulge the
result of their deliberations except
through the proper channel, which is
to report their decision to the Adiutant-
General, and let him in his discretion
allow publicity to be given 10 it. The
verdict will probably be given to Gen
eral Mcdonald to-day.
The penalty for non. attendance upon
a parade is small fine. That for dis
obedience of orders in not parading is
punishable with q fine OF from s. to
$500 and expulsion FROM membership.
This unfortunate occurrence is much
TO be regretted. The appearances are
that if Mr.. Adams, who is very
worthy and respected young man, has
violated his trusts as member of the
company he has done SO feeling that
he c0nscientiously owed as much TO the
order of which he is member.
The court-martial had TO be ordered
on the other hand, because there was a
seeming disobedience and defiance OF
orders and a clash Of authority be-
tween the company and another organi'
zation, which, it was thought, couldn
be allowed to go unnoticed.